Rotary attachment for tractor plows



Feb. 15, 1938. T. K. RUSSELL 2,108,078

ROTARY ATTACHMENT FOR TRACTOR FLOWS Original Filed Aug. 8, 1933 5Sheets-Sheet 1.

A TTORNEY.

Feb. l5, 1938. T, K, RUSSELL 2,108,078

ROTARY ATTACHMENT FOR TRACTOR FLOWS Original Filed Aug. 8, 1933 5Sheets-Sheet 2 /N VENTO/6 Thomas /(A Russe/l A 7'7' ORNE Y Feb. 15,1938. T, K, RUSSELL 2,108,078

ROTARY ATTACHMENT FOR TRACTOR FLOWS NVENTO? Thomas KA Russe T. K.RUSSELL ROTARY ATTACHMENT FOR TRACTOR PLOW F eb. 15, 1938.

Original Filed Aug. 8, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 N VEN TOR. Tho/7705 /Pusse// A TTORNEY.

Feb. 1s, 193s. T, K RUSSELL 2,108,078

ROTARY ATTACHMENT FOR TRACTOR PLOWS Original Filed Aug. 8, 1933 5Sheets-Sheet 5 `Patented Feb. l5, 1938 UNITED STATES ROTARY ATTACHMENTFOR TRACTOR PLOWS Thomas K. Russell, New York, N. Y., assignor to ThePlow-Wake Corporation, a. corporation of Delaware Application August 8,1933, Serial No. 684,150 Renewed April 29, 1937 37 Claims.

This invention comprises certain improvements on the structure disclosedin my co-pending application, Serial No. 358,203, tiled April 26, 1929,allowed February 14, 1933, and is in part a continuation thereof. Theparticular form of power connections here illustrated is designedespecially for use with a standard make of low priced tractor, as itthen provides a more economical means for directly driving a set ofheavy steel blades, of purposeful conformation mounted on a squaredsteel shaft in a completed spiral relation, from the tractor worm-shaft,instead of from the point where the usual pulley connection is placedfor power take-off purposes.

The co-related improvements are, however, so designed asto make theattachment available for use in commotion with any standard make ofmodern farm tractor or tractor-drawn plow now in daily seasonal useeverywhere. The essential elements of the entire apparatus are flexiblyconnected together so as to automatically adjust themselves to varyingstresses, and are capable of mutual registration under all plowablefield conditions.

Another important novel feature of the present invention is theemployment of the exact angle of inclination of the rotating assembly ofblades -with reference to the ground surface, which ensures an evendisposal of any greenmanure, surface-litter and fertilizer of all kinds,

in the condition of an even mixture with the soil throughout the lowerpart of the thoroughly completed seed-bed produced by the plowingoperation, and out of the way of subsequent cultivation operations,adding humus to the soil with available plant-food to the maximumbenefit of the growing crop until the harvest maturity. 'I'his improvedresult is sharply distinguished from that obtained in an ordinaryplowing operation in which such surface material is deposited fiat onthe floor of the preceding furrow, there to interfere with subsequentaccess of moisture from the sub-soil, or deposited in bunches inpreviously formed portions of the seed-bed, there to generate ,excessivefertilizer heat detrimental to plant-life. The best form of apparatusembodying my invention at present known to me is illustrated in theaccompanying five sheets of drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the complete apparatus mounted on a plowconnected to the rear of a tractor of the type before referred to.

Fig. 2 is a similar plan view.

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the apparatus mounted on a plow.

PATENT OFFICE Fig. 4 is an axial section on an enlarged scale of therevoluble blades assembly, parts being broken away.

Fig. 5 is a cross section on a line 5 5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a detail front` elevation of the gear casing.

Figs. 7, 8 and 9 are respectively a detail side elevation, plan, andfront end elevation of a floating soil distributor-member for thematerials thrown upward and outward by the rotating blades, which alsoeffectively serves to force stray stalks or vegetation into properfertilizer position below the seed-bed surface.

Fig. 10 is a detail side-elevation of a supporting bracket-plate with aportion of the plowbeam to which it is attached, and

Fig. 11 is a rear elevation thereof.

Fig. 12 is a perspective detail of a floating yoke or control-clip forsupporting the slotted moldboard extension in an easy, flexible contactwith the spacing rings carried by the rotating shaft, thus ensuringfrictionless clearance of vegetation and freedom from winding up ofroots, etc.,

thereon.

Fig. 13 is a rear elevation and Fig. 14 a plan view of the floating,slotted mold-board extension and its support-members, and

Fig. 15 is a cross section on line l5--I 5 of Fig. 3.

Throughout the drawings like reference characters indicate like parts.

A represents the rear end of the tractor and B indicates generally astandard form of plow having a swivelled traction connection D to apoint at the rear of the tractor, substantially in the line of thelongitudinal axis thereof, as is common in the use of tractor plows, theother end. of the bar D being connected by shackle i to the plow beam 2,which latter is supported by the usual wheels 35, 36. At C is shown indotted lines the rear end of the worm shaft forming an element of theworm drive used on the partcula 4type of motor tractor here illustrated.

3 is the plowshare and 4 an unslotted portion of the mold-board of thestandard plow, the only addition here shown to the standard plowstructure consisting in making the rear portion-of said mold-board inslotted and flexible form comprising the curved ribs or ngers 31 (seeFig. 3), the forward ends of which overlap the rear edge of the forwardrigid section i of the mold-board and in effect form continuationsthereof.

A revoluble soil-processing and pulverizing assembly of blunt and heavyblades 6, 6 is supported from a gear-housing which is mounted on theplow beam as shown.. This assembly consists essentially of therevoluble, .squared shaft 5' on which are mounted a plurality of saidheavy blades 6 spaced apart by sections ofsteel tubing 1 fitted over acircular hub or boss cast or forged on each blade. This blades-assemblyis held up against the lower end of the gear casing I3, from which theshaft 5 is supported, by means of the forged head 8 'on the lower end ofshaft 5 coming to a, bearing against the lower blade member 8 when thereduced upper end I0 of shaft 5 -is screwed into the hub of bevel gearI8 by means of the thread 9. An annular oil-seal or grease retainershown at I2 surrounds the hub of gear I8 at the point where it entersthe centrally bored neck at the lower end of casing I3. This serves topreventl oil or grease escaping from the said gear casing or housing I3.The hub of gear I9 and the free end of its stub shaft 42 arerespectively journalled in roller bearings I4 and I6, the latter bearingbeing carried by the housing capplate I5. A beveled pinion 20 is mountedon, or formed integrally with, stub shaft 2| which is journalled inroller bearings 23, 23, carried in the casing extension 22, said pinion2II meshing with gear I9. This casing extension is held in place bybolts 39, 39. A cap 40 serves for closing the outer opening in housingextension 22. A sprocket pinionk 43 is fast on shaft 2I and is driven bysprocket chain 46 which runs over Aanother sprocket pinion 30 on therear end of main driveshaft II. This train of sprocket gearing isenclosed in an oil-tight casing 45. As a result of the above describedconstruction, the earth-pulverizing assembly comprising blades 6, 6,will be caused to revolve whenever main drive-shaft I I is rotated.

The gear housing I3 has a beveledface or flange 24 formed on one side,as best shown in Fig. 6, and this flange is bolted to bracket plate 26which is fastened to the plow-beam 2 by the beam bolts 28 (see Figs. 10and 11) of the particular plow to which the apparatus is designed to beattached. The holes for bolts 28 may be preformed to t such standardplow. The upper edge of the plate 26 is provided with a notch 62 inwhich may be slipped a bolt or other projection from the casing face 24when the parts are being assembled. Holes such as shown at 21 are boredin plate 26 in positions such that when the gear housing I3 is hung froma bolt screwed into one of the upper threaded sockets 25 indicated indotted lines in Fig. 6 and nested in notch 62, said housing may beadjusted so as to give the revoluble shaft journaled therein apredetermined degree of downward and rearward inclination. Thereuponadditional bolts may be inserted through holes 21, and screwed into theother sockets 25, 25 shown in Fig. 6 so that said housing will then befirmly clamped in the desired position with reference to the plow as awhole. This construction facilitates the mounting of the pulverizer uniton the plow by one man. A plate 26 designed to t a given standard makeof plow can be sold to a user o such plow and easily installed by him onthe p ow beam 2 as shown in Figs. 10 and l1. The user then inserts abolt in the proper one of the two upper screw holes 25 in the beveledface 24 of the housing I3 and hooks such bolt into notch 62. Said boltwill then support the unit While the user swings it thereon as a pivotuntil the other screw holes register with holes 21; whereupon theadditional bolts can be inserted and screwed. up tightly to clamp theunit to the plate 26 in proper position. Similarly, whenever the unit isto be removed for overhauling the bolts `both hands and free it fromengagementjwith s'aid'notch. If all the bolts engaged holes in plate 26,one man would have to hold the unit while the last bolt was beingremoved by another, as the unit is too heavy to be held by the operatorwith one hand while he unscrews the last bolt with the other.

'Ihe rotary assembly of blades being thus properly mounted on the plowbeam 2, motion may be transmitted to it from the worm shaft C of thetractorl by Vmeans of the sprocket wheel I1 made fast on the projectingend of said worm shaft; a sprocket chain 29 running over sprocket wheelI1 and also over sprocket wheel I8 fast on one portion of universaljoint 34. This universal joint is connected to the main drive shaft IIthrough the clutch shaft 63, the overload release apparatus 32 andanother universal joint 34a.

.The slip joint in this transmission line is indicated at 64 in Fig. 2where the shaft 63 of square cross section enters a similar longitudinalrecess in the sleeve of clutch 32. The chain and sprocket gearing lastdescribed is enclosed in an oilretaining casing 44. At some convenientlpoint in this transmission line a suitable clutch, manually operablefrom the drivers seat, would be usually inserted which could be openedwhen it is desired to stop rotation of the blades for any reason.

The conveying and stripping finger-membersA or ribs 31 forming afloating rear -portion of the mold-board 4, preferably have their endsadjacent the mold-board edge bolted to a transversely extending strip 55which is supported at its upper end by the oating or crane arm 56, theother end of said arm 56 being perforated at 51 and provided with slots58, 58, so as to slip over the lower end or neck of the gear housing I3and be held in such position by a bayonet-lock action with thediametrically opposite lugs or ribs 65 on housing I3 shown in Fig. 6.This mounting holds the fingers 31 in proper relation with the unslottedportion of the mold-board 4, the finger unit shown in Figs. 13 and 14being thus left free to adjust itself circumferentially on housing I3,so that its edge strip 55 rests loosely against the rear edge of themold-board portion 4, as best shown in Fig. 15. To further assist insupporting this mold-board extension unit, the spring or shock-absorbermember 59 is connected to the rearward side of the slotted and floatingmoldboard portion and anchored on the bracket plate 26, or upon anyconvenient portion of the plow beam or supporting frame. Similarly, thelower end of the mold-board extension unit is iiexibly held in properrelation to the mold-board and the blades-assemblyv by means of thefloating yoke or collar 60, shown in detail in Fig. 12, the

ends of which are bent around and extend par-- allel one to the other toform a slot 6I into which' the free end of the next to the lowermostfinger The efficient cooperation of Ythe extension fingers 31, with theblades 5, 5, at all times. is ensured by giving the latter annularflange-like portions 68 (Fig. 5) on which the edges of the ends offingers 31 may always rest, thus preventing any of said finger ends fromsagging down far enough to engage the edge of a rotating blade and bethereby twisted out of shape.

Preferably the lowermost blade-member 3 is left free from contact withany mold-board strip or finger, as best shown in Fig. 3, the two lowerblades being so deeply submerged in the furrow soil that there is littlechance of any standing vegetation or surface litter becoming wound upthereon.

Referring to Figs. '1, 8 and 9, the floating soil distributor or screen41 there shown is composed of a series of parallel fingers fast on varectangularly shaped housing 48, which is supported by the shaft 49 andthe chains 5|, 5I, said chains being connected to any suitable hookcarried by cap plate I5. Shaft 49 is supported, and longitudinallyadjustable in, brackets 50, 50, fastened to the side of the gear casingI3. These fingers forming the screen 41 therefore extend downwardly andoutwardly in front of the bladesunit as well shown in Fig. 3, and dirtthrown up by the blades either strikes the interior of housing Cil Cil

48 or the fingers 41 and drops into the open furrow, or passes betweenthe fingers 41, and is evenly distributed to form an adjacent finishedseed-bed. A large part of the vegetation or other fibrous litter pulledup and partly crushed and thrown outward by the rapidly revolving bladesis also stopped by this screen assembly and drops into the furrow.Preferably the extreme lower ends of screen members 41 are curved inwardto more completely carry out this purpose, as sho at 66 in Figs. 3 and9.

A rear guard plate 52 is adjustably fastened to the rear end of thescreen housing 48 by bolt 53, as shown in Figs. 3 and 9. 'I'his may beeither dropped down into the position there shown, so as to guardagainst or intercept the passage of such hard particles as are thrownrearwardly and at the higher elevation by the upper members of theblades-assembly 6, or it may be swung up out of operative position, whendesirable, by temporarily loosening bolt 53.

The general mode of operation of the present invention is similar tothat described in my before-mentioned prior application, but much moreeiiieient and with less friction and wear on, and deterioration of, theapparatus, while also producing certain new and highly beneficialresults. When the soil turned up by the lower unslotted portion of themold-board 4 slides onto the slotted upper and rear section of saidmold-board formed by the extension ribs or fingers 31, the greaterportion of it is shattered into small particles which are successivelythrown by the rotating blades against or through the screen 41 oragainst the interior of the screen housing 48, so that only thoroughlypulverized particles pass the screen and consequently are more widelydistributed to form a :drie mulch which effectively retains moisturewithin the finished .seed-bed. The relative arrangement of themold-board parts and their relation to the blades 6 is most clearlyshown in Fig. 15.

The continuous spray of finer particles passing through screen 41 are,of course, thrown much higher and further away than are the coarserparticles or small lumps, and the former there` fore fall on theadjacent, previously pulverized surface of the already partly formed'seed-bed produced by the turning over of the last preceding furrows andthe deposit of other particles over parts of the surface so alreadyformed. 'I'hus the completed seed-bed is sealed by this final layer ofhner material forming its surface and closing all air pockets so as toretain below it most of the moisture drawn subsequently syphon-like fromthe subsoil. The degree of success in obtaining this latter result isoften the determining factor to any profitable farming operations.

All stubble, weeds and/or standing vegetation of any height usuallyencountered by the rotating blades-assembly is automatically andthoroughly disposed of if the positionof shaft 5 is within the limits ofangular inclination to the vertical shown in the drawings, i. e.. -arearward inclination of about 24 degrees which is within the limitsindicated in Fig. 1. Such angle, however, might be varied nearly 10degrees. in either direction without entirely destroying the cover-Aing-in of the surface litter. The lateral inclination is preferably 10degrees, though here also minor variations are possible (as indicated inFig. 3) without entirely interfe fing with this litter covering-infunction, so long as the angle of rearward inclination is correct, butany considerable combined departures from the two preferred angles abovegiven so interferes with theA lar adjustments this result can be onlypartially. attained, if at all.

These angles are also important as cooperating with screen 41 to producea properly restricted field of distribution for the pulverized soilthrown through said screen. If the shaft 5 is too nearly vertical thisfine soil will be thrown too far and too widely and an open furrow isthe result, which is particularly objectionable as interfering with thefinishing, or dead-furrowing operation,

As shown in Fig. 1, the eld of rotation of blades 6 is mainly in advanceof the rear edges of the mold-board as composed of the part 4 and itsslotted extension portion formed by ribs or fingers 31. As a result, theblow of each blade is de-v livered upon the upturning earth at an earlystage of its upward movement, and before it begins to move forward withthe plow, as it otherwise would to a certain extent in the ordinaryplowing action. This renders the blows of the blades much more effectivein their pulverizing action, than those of previous rotary bladesassemblies of this general type which have been located behind, orbeside, the rear edges of their cooperating mold-boards.

The slotted mold-board extension formed by the fingers 31 operates, asdid the similar but rigid construction shown `in my co-pendingapplication, to strip from the rotating blades l, 6, winding vegetationand any spot grown materials or surface litter, which would otherwisesoon wind up on shaft 5 and clog the bladesassembly 6 so as to transformthe unit into a rotating cylinder `,of miscellaneous composition whichwould be totally ineffective for pulverizing the upurned soil and sod. Ihave found by experience, however, that the blades cannot be kept inproper registry with the rigid fingers shown in my said priorapplication. This failure to retain proper clearance occurred becausethe blades and fingers were often distorted out of mutual adjustment byexcessive stresses, and then clashed together in a manner that producedgreat frictional resistance and destructive wear on both tractor, plowand attachment. The flexible mounting of the slotted mold-boardextension best shown in Figs, 13 and 14, and hereinbefore described, hasovercome these difiiculties. The fingers 31 freely float on theirflexible supports now shown and described, and rest only lightly on theupper surfaces of blades 6, 6, with their outer ends held in closeproximity to the outer surfaces of spacing rings 1, 1, bythe oating yokeor collar 60. Consequently they present a reduced resistance to therotation of the blades unit and suffer little wear therefrom, but at alltimes the floating crane or varm 56, the slotted yoke or collar 60 andthe spring 69 hold them in correct position to receive the earth forcedup over the lower, unslotted mold-board section 4, and so complete thesaid preparations for planting in one automatic operation. If thisslotted continuation of the mold-board were not employed, but only theunslotted, abbreviated portion retained, a large portion of the earthwould drop back behind the plow into the furrow being cut thereby,instead of being turned over into the finished seed-bed previouslyformed, as is the main object of all successful soil tillage operations.

The blades 6, 6, and fingers 31, 31, also act as shears to cut or shredpieces of vines or other vegetation which may not be thrown oil againstscreen 41 but are carried around by the blades until they again begin topass between fingers 31, at which time such materials are caught betweenthe blades and convex edges of the fingers which then cooperate with theblades as do the members of a pair of shears.

The drive connection from the worm shaft of the tractor here shown savesthe greater cost of the usual power take-off from the pulley-driveconnection such as is shown in my prior application, and also saves thepower absorbed in the internal friction of the parts of such additionalpower take-off. 'I'he practically frictionless chain and sprocketgearing and straight line shafting here shown waste much less power thandid the previous arrangement, and the power take-off from the universaljoint 34 located at a point right over the swivel of the draw bar D, asnow shown, permits the plow to swing freely about its traction pivotwithout requiring any substantial shortening or lengthening of the powertransmission shaft when turning corners. The overload release apparatus32 takes care of any overload on the transmission` and prevents breakingof gear teeth or drive chains if the blades-asy are maintainedsubstantially in the mannerV pointed out in the appended claims. Thusthe rotary blades assembly could be advanced further toward the front ofthe plow than here shown, other forms of gearing and power transmissioncould be employed, and other minor modifications made.

details An important feature of the operation of the device results fromthe fact that as each of the finger-like members 31, 31, formingpractically extensions of the mold-board, extends backward to a pointbeside and closely adjacent a tubular sleeve 1 on the rotating shaft 5,the beaters, or blunt knives 6, 6, cooperate with said fingers 31, 31,to form in eect pairs of scissors which apply a drawing cut action onany vegetation or other fibrous matter which has been carried around byany particular beater and caught between it and the other scissorselement,-supplied by the adjacent fingers. This breaks up, or shreds, orcuts up long pieces of originally standing vegetation, such ascornstalks or tall weeds, before they are dropped, and thus enables thelimp, or cut up fragments thereof to be more easily and completelycovered when the next furrow is run.

As herein previously pointed out the effective mold-board as a whole inthe described structure comprises the unslotted, rigid, forward portion4, and the curved fingers 31 forming in substance a slotted and slightlyflexible rear portion; and an important feature of the apparatuscomprises so journaling the shaft 6 that when the plow is in the furrowthe upper portion of the axis of said shaft immediately below thejournal casing I3 shall lie in a vertical, transverse plane locatedbetween the transverse vertical planes respectively passing through,thel

front end and rear upper corner of the said rigid, unslotted mold-boardsection 4. This evidently is necessary to ensure the deposit of theearth thrown by the blades 6, 6, in the desired location previouslyexplained, since even if the inclination of the shaft 5 carrying saidblades were correctly adjusted a placing of its journal bearing too farto the rear would interefere with the hereinbefore described and desiredfunctioning of said blades.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

l. In an attachment for plows adapted to be drawn and operated by amotor tractor comprising a revoluble soil pulverizing unit adapted to bemounted on the plow beam and comprising a gear casing, the combination,with said above described apparatus, of a substantially flat,perforated, vertically-disposed bracket plate bolted to said plow beamwith its face more remote from said beam exposed and adapted to fitagainst a plane surface on the exterior of said gear-casing, and meansengaging said plate perforations for fastening said casing thereto.

- 2. A combination such as defined in claim 1 in which said plate has amarginal notch in its upper edge, and the fastening means comprisesbolts screwed into said unit surface, one of which may be hooked intosaid notch to temporarily support said unit.

3. In an apparatus of the class described comprising a plow having amold-board, a revoluble shaft structure rigidly supported with referenceto said mold-board and a plurality of radially extending blades mountedon said shaft, the combination, with said above described apparatus, ofa plurality of curved flexibly supported fingers extending between saidblades and constituting skeleton extensions of the rear edge of the plowmold-board. Y

4. A combination such as defined in claim 3 in which said fingers arecurved toward said revolubleshaft structure and have their free'endsnormally closely adjacent to the surface thereof; whereby said fingersand blades produce a shearing action to cut or shred stringy materialsand prevent their becoming wound around said shaft.

structure.

5. A combination such as dened in claim 3 in which said ngers have theirends adjacent said mold-board edge mounted on a -rigid strip. combinedwith means for loosely supporting said strip from a point near the upperportion of said shaft structure; whereby proper registry between saidblades and fingers is automatically secured.

6. A combination such as dened in claim 3 in which said fingers havetheir ends adjacent said mold-board edge mounted on a rigid strip,combined with means for loosely supporting said strip from a point nearthe upper portion of said shaft structure, whereby proper registrybetween said blades and fingers is automatically secured, together withmeans carried by the lower portion of such shaft structure adapted tohold the lower end of such strip insuch position that it will besubstantially parallel with the axis of said shaft.

7. An apparatus such as defined in claim 3 in which all said fingers areconnected together to form a unitary structure, combined with springmeans for supporting said unit.

8. An apparatus such as defined in claim 3 in which said fingers havetheir ends adjacent said mold-board edge mounted on a rigid strip,combined with means for loosely supporting said strip from a point nearthe upper portion of said shaft structure, whereby proper registrybetween said blades and ngers is automatically secured, together withmeans carried by the lower portion of such shaft structure adapted tohold the lower end of such strip in such position that it will besubstantially parallel with the axis of said shaft comprising a collarloosely mounted on said shaft structure and having a slotted portion inwhich may rest the free end of one of the lowermost of said oatingngers.

9. An apparatus such as dened in claim 3 in which said fingers havetheir ends adjacent said mold-board edge mounted on a rigid strip,combined with means for loosely supporting said strip from a point nearthe upper portion of said shaft structure, whereby proper registrybetween said blades and ngers is automatically secured, said lastmentioned means comprising a floating member having one end perforatedto fit around said shaft structure, and a tension spring attached to theother end of said member and anchored at its other end with reference tosaid mold-board.

10. A combination such as defined in claim 3 in which said ngers projectinto all spaces between successive blades except that between thelowermost pair thereof.

11. The combination, with a plow, of a device comprising a set of bladesmounted on, and projecting radially from, a revoluble shaft which isjournalled on said plow and inclined downwardly and rearwardly at anangle of approximately 24 degrees to a vertical line when the plow is inoperative position in a furrow, as well as laterally downward andoutward from said plow under said conditions at an angle ofapproximately 10 degrees to such vertical line; whereby all vegetationand litter on the surface of the ground turned up by said plow is beatendown into the lower part of the adjacent furrow or distributed over onlya predetermined area of the adjacent seed-bed.

l2. In an attachment for tractor driven plows comprising a revolubleshaft carrying radially projecting blades, and gearing for rotating saidshaft, the combination, with said above described apparatus, of a screensuspended near the field of rotation of said blades in an approximatelyvertical plane and in the line of travel of the greater lportion of thestreams of earth particles thrown therefrom at a sumcient elevation toprevent any portion of it dragging on the ground when the plow is in afurrow.

13. A combination such as dened in claim l2 in which said screencomprises a plurality of parallel fingers with curved lower ends andsupported at their upper ends.

14, A combination such as defined in claim 12 in which said screen ishinged so as to swing outwardly from said blades.

15. An apparatus such as defined in claim 12 in which said screencomprises a series of parallel, downwardly and outwardly inclinedfingers fastened at their upper ends to a'rectangular frame having alongitudinally extending shaft revolubly supported from said plow,combined with a flexible support for the outer edge of said frame:whereby said lingers may swing away from said rotating blades under anystresses overpowering the action of gravitation thereon.

16. In an attachment for tractor driven plows comprising a revolubleshaft carrying radially projecting blades, and gearing for rotating saidshaft, the combination, with said above described apparatus, of asubstantially flat guard plate supported at the rear of said shaft in aposition substantially parallel thereto and in a position to interceptthe flight of the upper and more rapidly moving portion of the streamsof earth particles thrown from said blades.

17. In a soil pulverizing attachment for tractor drawn plows comprisinga revoluble shaft and gearing for rotating it, thecombination, with saidabove described apparatus, of. a plurality of radially extending bladesmounted on said shaft -and each provided with laterally extendingportions adjacent said shaft, and of series of ngerlike extensions fromthe mold-board of the plow having their free ends projecting between theSaid extension portions of adjacent blades so that the lower edge ofeach of said ends may rest thereon at all times when in operativeposition and thus be prevented from sagging into the path of therotating blade beneath it.

18. In an attachment for tractor-drawn plows comprising a revolubleshaft journalled inan overhead housing and provided with a plurality ofradially extending blades adjacent the plow mold-board, the combination,with said above described apparatus, of a plurality of parallel fingersconnected together, and an arm for supporting said parallel lingersassembly supported from said housing by a bayonet lock therewith.

19. In a power driven plow the combination, with a set of knifelikebeaters extending radially from a revoluble shaft, and means forrotating said shaft, of an extension for the mold-board of such plowhaving a plurality of slots in its rear portion forming a set ofparallel fingers each of which extends between two of said knives tosaid shaft; whereby vegetation forced backward and around said shaftinto contact with the rear surfaces of said fingers is there subjectedto a scissorslike cutting action.

20. The combination, with a plow having a mold board which extendsrearwardly only about half the distance necessary to completely turnover a furrow, of a revoluble shaft which is journalerl on said plow atone side of the rear portion of rao said shortened mold board andis-inclined downwardly and slightly outwardly from the medial, vertical,longitudinal plane of said plow structure at an angle of approximately10 degrees thereto as well as rearwardly at a considerably larger angleto the vertical line when the plow is in operative position in thefurrow, a set of blades mounted on and projecting radially from saidshaft, and power-driven means for rotating said shaft.

21. An apparatus such as defined in claim 20 combined with a set ofcurved fingers extending from the rear portion of said mold boardbetween the paths of rotation of adjacent blades and cooperatingtherewith to produce a shearing action on any stringy material picked upthereby.

22. An apparatus such as defined in claim 20 combined with a set ofcurved fingers extending from the rear portion of said mold board tosaid shaft, between the paths of rotation of adjacent blades andcooperating therewith to produce a shearing action on any stringymaterial picked up thereby.

23. The combination, with a plow, of a device comprising a set of bladesmounted on, and projecting radially from, a revoluble shaft journalledin bearings held in substantially xed relation to said plow and inclineddownwardly and rearwardly at an angle of approximately 24 degrees to avertical line when the plow is in operable position in a furrow, as wellas laterally downward and outwardly from said plow under said conditionsat an angle of approximately 10 degrees to such vertical line; wherebyall vegetation and litter on the surface of the ground turned up by saidplow is beaten down into a lower part of the adjacent furrow ordistributed over a predetermined area of the adjacent seed bed orembedded therein.

24. In an apparatus of the class described comprising a plow, arevoluble shaft structure rigidly supported with reference to said plowand a plurality of radially extending blades xedly mounted on saidshaft, the combination, with said above described apparatus, of aplurality of curvedfingers iiexibly supported with reference to saidshaft structure and extending between said blades in such direction thateach blade moves from the free ends of the fingers adjacent oppositesides thereof toward their supported ends.

25. In an apparatus of the class described comprising a revoluble shaftstructure and a plurality of radially extending blades fixedly mountedthereon, the combination, with said above described apparatus, of amember flexibly supported with reference to said shaft structure, aplurality of curved fingers each rigidly attached at one end to saidmember extending between said blades and adapted to serve as means forstripping therefrom any foreign material carried thereby while saidshaft and blades are revolving in such direction that each of saidblades moves from the free ends of the fingers adjacent opposite sidesthereof toward said finger supporting member.

26. In combination, a plow having a rigid mold board section, a rotarycutter in cooperative relation to the rear edge of said mold boardsection, a depending, rearwardly inclined revoluble shaft for saidcutter and means for journalling said shaft located at a point abovesaid mold board section such that when the plow is in operative positionin a furrow the upper portion of the axis of said shaft immediatelybelow said journaling means will lie in a transverse vertical planeintermediate of transverse vertical planes passing through the front endof said rigid mold board section and the rear upper corner thereofrespectively.

27. In combination, a plow having a mold board of considerably less thannormal horizontal dimensions with its rear edge extending ap-.proximately in a vertical line and a rotary cutter comprising arevoluble shaft journalled on said plow above said mold board, the axisof said shaft intersecting a vertical plane extending through the rearupper corner of said mold board transversely to said plow at a pointadjacent the upper edge of said mold board.

28. The combination, with a plow having a mold board, of a rotary cutteradjacent said plow, a revoluble shaft for said cutter, and means forjournalling said shaft above and intermediate the front end and rearupper corner of said mold board, said shaft being inclined at asubstantial angle to a vertical line when the plow is in operativeposition in`a furrow.

29. The combination, with a plow having a. mold board, of a rotarycutter adjacent said plow, a revoluble shaft for said cutter, and meansfor journalling said shaft located above and intermediate the front endand rear upper corner of said mold board, said shaft being inclinedrearwardly of said plow at a substantial angle to a vertical line whenthe plow is in operative position in a furrow.

30. The combination, with a plow having a mold board, of a rotary cutteradjacent said plow, and a revoluble shaft for said cutter, together withmeans for journalling said shaft located above and intermediate thefront edge and rear upper corner of said mold board, said shaft beinginclined laterally of said plow at a substantial angle to a verticalline when the plow is in operative position in a furrow.

31. 'I'he combination, with a plow having a mold board, of a rotarycutter adjacent said plow, a revoluble shaft for said cutter, and meansfor journalling said shaft above and intermediate the front end and rearupper corner of the mold board, said shaft being inclined rearwardly andlaterally of said plow at substantial angles to a vertical line when theplow is in operative position in a furrow.

32. 'I'he combination, with a plow, of a rotary cutter adjacent saidplow, and a revoluble shaft for said cutter journalled in fixedrelationship with respect to said plow and inclined both rearwardly andlaterally of said plow with respect to a vertical line when the plow isin operative position in a furrow, the angle of rearward inclinationbeing from approximately 20 degrees to approximately 25 degrees and theangle of lateral inclination being from approximately ten degrees toapproximately 15 degrees.

33. The combination, with a plow having a mold board, of a revolubleshaft carrying radially arranged blades, and means for journalling saidshaft above and intermediate the upwardly extending edges of the moldboard so that said blades shall be in operative relationship to the rearedge of said mold board, said shaft being inclined both rearwardly andlaterally of said plow with respect to a vertical line when the plow isin operative p osition in a furrow, the angle of rearward inclinationbeing from approximately 20 degrees to approximately 25 degrees, and theangle of lateral inclination being from approximately 10 degrees toapproximately 15 degrees.

34. The combination, with a plow having a mold board, of a rotary cutterhaving a plurality of blades in operative relationship with the moldboard. a revoluble shaft for said cutter journalled in fixedrelationship with respect to said plow and inclined both rearwardly andlaterally of said plow at substantial angles ,with respect to a verticalline when the plow is in operative position in a furrow, and flexiblefingers projecting between said blades and normally having their freeends touching said shaft, said ngers and blades being parallel to oneanother.

35. The combination, with a plow of a rotary cutter having a pluralityof blades in operative relation with said mold board, a revoluble shaftfrom which said blades radiate, means for journalling said shaft aboveand intermediate the ends of the mold board so that said blades shall beadjacent the rear edge of said mold board, said shaft being inclinedboth rearwardly and laterally of said plow with respect to a verticalmold board, of a rotary cutter adjacent said plow, a revoluble shaft forsaid cutter, means for Journalling said shaft above and intermediate theupwardly extending edges of the mold board, said shaft being inclinedboth rearwardly and laterally of said plow with respect to a verticalline when the plow is in operative position in a furrow, the angle ofrearward inclination being from approximately 20 degrees toapproximately 25 degrees, and the angle of lateral inclination beingfrom approximately ten degrees to approximately l degrees, and a screensupported adjacent said cutter.

37. In an apparatus of the class described comprising a plow, arevoluble shaft structure rigidly supported with reference'thereto and aplurality of radially extending blades xediy mounted on the shaftiournaled in said structure, the combination, with said abovedescribedapparatus, of a plurality of curved fingers extending betweensaid blades and parallel thereto so as to strip therefrom any foreignmaterial carried thereby While said shaft and blades are revolving,together with slightly yieldable supporting means intervening betweensaid iingers and said revoluble shaft structure whereby the former canhave only a yielding pressure contact with said shaft or blades.

THOMAS K. RUSSELL.

